Customer Reviews

The Woody Allen Collection, Set 1 (Annie Hall/Manhattan/Sleeper/Bananas/Interiors/Stardust Memories/Love and Death/Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex But Were Afraid to Ask)

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is in response to the below review which states that there are "No extras, no remastered sound or video, no trailers even!"

I happen to have this set, which I seriously doubt this person does, and I am very pleased with this collection. Every disk in the set does indeed have the original trailer for the movie. And with the exception of Annie Hall, all the movies have anamorphic widescreen transfers. The movies look beautiful, especially when you consider they're over 20 years old (some almost 30). The sound is presented the way is was originally recorded; seriously, do we really need a DTS soundtrack for a Woody Allen movie? And you can't blame MGM because there are no extra features; Woody Allen has stated that he wants his movies to speak for themselves, and he feels that extra features would take away from that so he does not want them included. Also, each disk does come with a 2-page booklet that lists some interesting facts about the movie.

Overall I think this is a great collection, and if your a Woody Allen fan you should definitely pick this one up.

No one will doubt that Woody Allen is the only director who has consistently mastered the art of writing and directing intelligent, funny, unforgettable stories. These films are great examples of that. Fromk Annie Hall to Sleeper [I haven't viewed Stardust Memories yet], you will be completely satisfied with your purchase. Here's an overview of the films:

Annie Hall: Allem's best film, hands down. The story of a couple who meets in a New York tennis club. Allen plays Alvy Singer, a carbon copy of Allen's stereotypical self [neurotic, clumsy, "suave"], while Keaton, who gives a stunning performance, plays Annie Hall, a country girl from Wisconsin trying to find a life in New York. A great story about relationships. The last paragraph that Allen narrates is fabulous. Don't watch this film first, or you may not appreciate Allen's other work as much!

Bananas: On the sillier side, this film is about Fielding Mellish, another character based on himself. Mellish works for a large corporation. Testing products. If you are at all familiar with Allen, you already know that there is a witty scene coming up. Mellish travels to the small Latin American country of San Marcos to find something to do. He ends up becoming the communist dictator there, and that is all I will say.

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* *But were afraid to ask: A great satire on the popular book. This is a series of seven small sex stories, varying from Gene Wilder's affair with a sheep to a giant, deadly mammary. Watch for Allen's coolest role as Fabrizio, the Italian.

Interiors: A stunning film [very serious] about a wealthy Long Island family that steers away from the mother. This film is beautifully shot, and it really pays a lot of attention to showing every aspect of every character. Tension builds quickly, and it stays until the end.

Love and Death: One of my personal top five Allen films. This one is about Napoleon trying to take over Russia. Allen plays Boris Grushenko, a Russian Catholic, who falls in love with his distant cousin, Sonja [Keaton]. This one is nonstop laughs, but only if you are familiar with the war and the works of Russian writers. It is still very funny otherwise, but not as deeply funny.

Manhattan: Similar to Annie Hall, but a little different. Allen plays Isaac Davis, who falls in love with a seventeen year old [Mariel Hemingway], and also with Mary [Keaton], an overly pretentious New Yorker at the same time. This story is again about relationship, but this one is extreme. Shot in black and white, and accompanied by a George Gershwin soundtrack, many Allen fans consider this film his love letter to New York City. It is also considered his best by many people. I think he has made better, but this is a stunning film.

Sleeper: Sleeper is 'Love and Death' set in the future. A great film about Allen, who is frozen in 1973, and defrosted 200 years later. Great jokes, chase scenes, and more. In one scene, Diane Keaton and a leader of a revolutionist underground organization re-create scenes from his childhood. Another joke about the NRA. Sleeper is probably the best film to see if one wants a good introduction to Allen's style.

All in all, this collection is a must-own. Also, at less than ten dollars per DVD, no fan should pass this up. Separately, they cost more. Buy this today and you will be granted a good taste in motion pictures!

This collection of Woody Allen written and directed movies is well chosen in that it begins with his second writer / director effort and includes all eight in a row from that point on. The included films are:

Bananas
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex but Were Afraid to Ask
Sleeper
Love and Death
Annie Hall
Interiors
Manhattan
Stardust Memories

This selection is great for a complete Woody Allen fan, but it has some drawbacks to people who are entertained by his comedies, but find nothing of interest in his other movies. And, there is no more `other movies' film than `Interiors', which has not a single joke, gag, laugh, or snicker. That is not to mean it is not pure Woody, as all of his most popular themes such as sex, death, creative freeze-up, parents, and relationships between partners.

`Stardust Memories' is also an `other movie', however, it is on more familiar ground as a parody with jokes. If fact, one can say that the object of parody in `Stardust Memories' is the earlier seven movies and Allen himself.

The one other movie worth noting in this context is `Love and Death'. Amazon's published review of the collection describes this movie as underrated. I think it is more accurate to say that it is much less well known, almost totally overshadowed by the earlier comedies and the great success of `Annie Hall'. In fact, I am almost inclined to guess that some of the changes toward more serious characters and plot may have come as a result of critical ennui with `Love and Death', even though these are by far two of Allen's most pregnant topics. I believe it is not `Love and Death' but `Stardust Memories' which is underrated.

For Allen fans and wannabe Allen fans, this is a great collection. For people who just happen to like his funny movies, do the math to see if the discounted price for the collection means you are getting `Interiors' and maybe `Love and Death' for free. Personally, I feel there are no losers in this collection, but that's me. I just don't know why they didn't bother to start with the first movie, `Take the Money and Run', since it is distributed by MGM, just like all the others.

This collection is excellent. Eight classic movies, beautifully packaged and transferred carefully to DVD.

One point to note - in fact, something I hadn't read anywhere else: With the exception of Manhattan, all the DVDs here are double-sided, containing both a standard and a widescreen version of the movie in question.

The Manhattan DVD is one-sided, containing only the widescreen edition. I personally think this is no bad thing, as you lose a sense of panorama when you see a panned-and-scanned version. However, I know widescreen isn't for everyone.

This 8-DVD set is a great deal. The sound and picture are very good-or at least adequate for a Woody Allen movie, the booklets are informative, and the discs have the option of widescreen or pan-and-scan, not to mention the fact that these are wonderful movies. They chronicle the development of a filmmaker from slapstick (Bananas) to drama (Interiors) to the incorporation of both elements (Stardust Memories). If you're a fan of Woody Allen's, there's no reason not to get this. And if you're not sure if you're a fan, there's still no reason not to get this set-it should win you over. I'm just hoping we'll see his Orion releases on DVD sometime soon.

All Woody Allen's best work in one set...

Bananas: Hilarious polotical satire with great Marx brothers style visual gags.
RATING: * * *

Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Sex: Hit and miss sex comedy, Woody as a sperm and Gene Wilder in love with a sheep are classics though, but more miss than hit.
RATING: * *

Sleeper: Absolute classic future-set comedy. Filled with later Allen trademarks and older Woody classics as well.
RATING: * * * * *

Love And Death: The best of 'early, funny' Woody. A film that is a big step foward cinematically and his still packed with jokes.
RATING: * * * * *

Annie Hall: The legendary Woody Allen film. Hilarious, subtle, brilliantly written, brilliantly acted and intelligent.
RATING: * * * * *

Interiors: Woody's first drama, at the time of release it was roasted by critics, heavy handed and abit dull.
RATING: * *

Manhattan: Annie Hall's older brother, Manhattan is a classic of the screen. Described at the time as: "the only great American film of the 70's".
RATING: * * * * *

Stardust Memories: A major failure in the US, over time this has become a cult favourite. A misunderstood movie.
RATING: * * * *

Every movie in this collection will leave you in deep thought one way or the other long after you view them. This is the sort of collection you can own and view multiple times without tiring of the plots, and there's always something new to get out of the stories each time you see them. "Annie Hall" and "Manhattan" are more prominent and famous over the others because there are more moments where you can laugh and enjoy the characters.

"Interiors" is not a film to be viewed for uplifting entertainment, but you can still appreciate it for its unique perceptiveness into a wealthy New York family's misery. It's serious movies like this one where you can delve into the artist's mind and pick apart his brain, enjoy the neurotic journey, and later you will be able to see reoccuring themes and motifs appear in his later works. What makes "Interiors" special is that it captures the essence of a family's life that rarely any other author or filmaker would bother to examine. Through this movie you can step outside yourself and feel the raw anguish and bitter remorse of all old maids around the world, and even still have the desire to sock them in the kisser. However i must warn this movie is for people seriously interested in examining human character and family dynamics. This doesn't follow a climax/ happy ending standard.

"Everything you always wanted to know about sex But were afraid to ask" is a fun film, and one of his earliest. There are a few weak and dull moments, but there are other episodes that make it all worthwhile. Right before you want to let out a big yawn you'll choke with laughter till you cry. It's inspiring to see how much Woody Allen has accomplished since.

All in all, this collection is the most diverse in mood compared to the other collections. From silly slapstick humor to neurotic-relationship drama, and the bleak and miserable... This pack carries a sample of Woody Allen's every style.

I know Woody himself said a film should stand for itself. But DVD is a format that SCREAMS for extras, whatever they might be. Even some trailers would be nice. But instead, we have, essentially, only the improved picture and sound quality (plus the assurance of never wearing out like VHS tapes) to go on.

The 8 DVDs are priced right, and all have merit to make this a 5 star collection on VHS. But c'mon. This was pretty feeble, especially from MGM, considering they recently put together the phenomenal James Bond box sets.

With the exception of 'Manhattan', all of the movies in this box set are presented in the MATTED widescreen ratio of 1.85:1, the ratio they were presented in in cinemas. The "full screen" versions are the full 35mm frames, with superfluous picture information at the top and bottom. This is the case with 95% of 1.85:1 widescreen movies, and it's a GOOD thing because it preserves the director's intended shot composition, even if there IS less picture information.

It's usually only 2.35:1 movies, like 'Manhattan', that are cropped at the sides for "full screen", and survive with more picture information when presented properly in widescreen.

Essentially, there are two basic kinds of letterboxing, that are both good, but for different reasons. The fundamental rule is that movies should be presented on home video in the same ration in which they were shown in cinemas.

This box set features Woody Allen's movies of the 70's (not counting 'Play it Again, Sam' and 'The Front'. These DVDs don't feature any special features - except for the trailers, and the sound is in mono. But an informitive two-page book comes with each movie.

'Bananas' is one the early comedy greats: with Woody traveling to a South American country and getting involved in the dictatorship politics there, including the rebels against the dictators.

'Everything you always to know about sex...' involved seven silly segments. One involving an affair with a sheep, one with a transvestite story, but the best was the last one where the characters are people inside a persons' brain - giving orders to other parts of the body. Woody has a good character in that sequence.

'Sleeper' was a Rip Van Winkle story. Woody's character awakens after 200 years of suspended animation in a world that has "martial law". Woody's character is persued throughout the movie, as well as the leading lady in the show - Diane Keaton (making her second Woody movie performance). This film was awful silly, worth checking out. In one scene, we get to see the power of futuristic fertilizer.

'Love and Death' came next. A story of going to war, in the time of Napolean. This was the first movie that started to intigrate seriousness into it. A good mix of comedy and philosiphy. In one brief scene - we see a "town fool" convention.

'Annie Hall' was Woody's big Oscar winning movie. A tale of couples in New York - Woody and his girlfriend (played by Diane Keaton). The film goes through certain stages that some couples deal with in relationships. The film became a little too real for me, reminding me of my own past at points. A fantasic display the many stages of relationships. You can always expect some good neurotic characters in Woody's movie, and neurotic relationships. This film's story has been said to do with Diane Keaton's real life -- her real last name is Hall! She had to use the name 'Keaton' because there was already a Diane Hall is the acting world.

'Interiors' was my least favorite from this set, mainly because there was no comedy in this one - and also no Woody Allen role. But the seriousness of this film grabbed me, I'm not saying that it wasn't a good film. The film deals with the story of a couple in their late 50's-early 60's getting a divorce, on the husband's request. The wife has a hard time dealing with the break-up - to the brink of not wanting to live anymore. The couple is survived by three daughters, one who which has a husband with a bad drinking problem. The film takes a new dreadful turn when we are introduced the husband's new girlfriend.

'Manhattan' in this one - which was praised by many - Woody Allen dates a 17-year old, who is madly in love with him, and he isn't sure how he feels about her. When a new woman comes into his life (his best friend's mistress), he decides to dump the teenager to persue this other one. Woody's character becomes discouraged when his ex-wife writes an unflattering book about their past relationship. Like 'Annie Hall', this is another good film about couples. My favorite line in the film has got be be: (when told that he thinks he's God) Woody says - "Well, I've got to model myself after somebody."

'Stardust Memories' is about Woody's character who is a flimmaker who is contimplating suicide after a career he's grown bored of. But there might be something out there to change his mind.

All in all, this box set is worth it, great laughs and some great drama. Two other box sets are availible - one from the early to mid 80's. The other from the late 80's, early 90's.

If you're wondering why Woody's other 90's films aren't availible in a box set - it's because these three box sets (spanning from '71 to '92) are all made by the same production company (MGM, who was recently bought out by Sony). Further films throughout the 90's were done by different companies. But there is a box set of Woody Allen's last four movies: Small Time Crooks, Curse of the Jade Scorpion, Hollywood Ending, and Anything Else.